Buffalo Bill Wanted! by Alex Simmons Read Free Book Online

“I’ve been baking all night. The least you could do is deliver these orders for me this morning.”
    â€œI know, Mam,” Wiggins replied sheepishly. “But I have to meet the lads—uh, Jennie and the others. Something important has—”
    â€œNot so important that you can slack off on your chores around here.”
    â€œBut—”
    His mother raised a disapproving eyebrow, and the corners of her lips curled down. It was a look that Wiggins knew too well. His mother would tolerate no more debate. Selling her baked goods was their only source of income since Wiggins’s father had died. Wiggins knew that the little money he made running errands for other people did not amount to much. Not even his work for Mr. Sherlock Holmes excluded him from helping her when she needed him.
    Wiggins trotted back up the stairs and into their room. “Sorry, Mam,” he said with an apologetic grin. “Where did you want me to deliver those goodies?”
    The two errands didn’t really take too long. As he jogged along the cobblestone streets toward the last shopkeeper, Wiggins realized that the small detour was actually useful to him.
    Everywhere he looked, Wiggins saw handbills posted up by Pryke’s supporters. Here and there, small groups of agitated people stood reading the handbills and discussing the message.
    Though Wiggins couldn’t read them himself, he gathered from the others that the bills spoke angrily against what they called an American “infestation. ” They even suggested that the London constabulary was coddling people of prestige and influence.
    Wiggins shook his head with disgust. Like Mr. Holmes, he had never cared much about politics. All the titles and speeches were just so much noise to him. But after the Raven League’s first adventure, Wiggins had begun to put faces to the names in government. After all, he’d met the queen of England. He’d also met assassins and learned that there were spies—even in the British government.
    Winding his way toward the Raven Pub, Wiggins continued to think about the case at hand. If someone was out to hurt Buffalo Bill and his show, or any Americans, they might be planning to use East Enders to do their dirty work. And later, when the law demanded justice, it would be the East Enders who would pay.
    If that was the case, what could he and the League do to stop them? The last time they’d had Sherlock Holmes on their side. Should they go to the detective?
    Wiggins reached a decision when he finally met up with Jennie and the others in the back room of the Raven Pub.
    â€œYou’re late,” Jennie scolded. “What kept you?”
    â€œI’ll explain along the way,” Wiggins replied. “Right now, we’re paying a call on Buffalo Bill. I got his address, but we have a ways to go.”
    In a few minutes, the four were hurrying westward along Mile End Road. Wiggins quickly told them about the handbills and what he had heard.
    â€œYeah,” Dooley said, nodding in agreement. “I was out early shining shoes of folks going to work. I heard them talking about this all morning long.”
    â€œI heard the same from the roughs hanging about the streets,” Wiggins added. “They’re saying Cody and the other savages should leave London.” He glanced over at Owens, who hadn’t cracked a joke or made a comment. “Have you heard anything?”
    Owens nodded but didn’t look at Wiggins. “Even some of my people are calling the Americans all sorts of names.”
    â€œThat bothers you?” Dooley asked.
    Owens shrugged. “Seems funny. We don’t want no one treatin’ us like dirt, but we’re quick to do it to others.”
    Wiggins pointed toward the back of a large furniture wagon rattling along the street. “There’s our ride.”
    The others caught on and one by one ran behind the vehicle to jump onto the tailgate